U.S. patent application number 14/357444 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-16 for user interface method and apparatus for providing deformation-sensitive input.
This patent application is currently assigned to NOKIA CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is Juha Arrasvuori, Erika Piia Pauliina Reponen, Kong Qiao Wang. Invention is credited to Juha Arrasvuori, Erika Piia Pauliina Reponen, Kong Qiao Wang.
Application Number | 20140310636 14/357444 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48288600 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140310636 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Arrasvuori; Juha ; et
al. |
October 16, 2014 |
USER INTERFACE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING
DEFORMATION-SENSITIVE INPUT
Abstract
A method, apparatus, computer program and user interface wherein
the method comprises detecting a user input wherein the user input
comprises deforming at least a portion of a housing of an
apparatus; and in response to detecting the user input, varying the
amount of content displayed on a display, in dependence upon the
deformation made to the housing of the apparatus.
Inventors: |
Arrasvuori; Juha; (Tampere,
FI) ; Wang; Kong Qiao; (Helsinki, FI) ;
Reponen; Erika Piia Pauliina; (Tampere, FI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Arrasvuori; Juha
Wang; Kong Qiao
Reponen; Erika Piia Pauliina |
Tampere
Helsinki
Tampere |
|
FI
FI
FI |
|
|
Assignee: |
NOKIA CORPORATION
Espoo
FI
|
Family ID: |
48288600 |
Appl. No.: |
14/357444 |
Filed: |
November 11, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
November 11, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2011/055045 |
371 Date: |
May 9, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/771 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0487 20130101;
G06F 3/01 20130101; G06F 3/0482 20130101; G06F 3/0484 20130101;
H04M 1/0268 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/771 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/0484 20060101
G06F003/0484; G06F 3/0482 20060101 G06F003/0482 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: enabling a plurality of user selectable
control elements to be displayed, detecting a user input wherein
the user input comprises deforming at least a portion of a housing
of an apparatus; and in response to detecting the user input,
enabling at least one additional user selectable control element to
be displayed for at least one of the plurality of user selectable
control elements previously displayed on the display, in dependence
upon the deformation made to the housing of the apparatus.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the housing comprises an
external casing of the apparatus.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the user input comprises
applying stress to the housing of the apparatus to cause the
deformation.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deformation comprises
at least one of bending at least a portion of the housing of the
apparatus, or stretching at least a portion of the housing of the
apparatus.
5-7. (canceled)
8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the number of additional
user selectable control elements displayed is dependent upon a
magnitude of the deformation.
9. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein returning the apparatus
to an un-deformed state causes the additional user selectable
control elements displayed on the display to be removed from the
display.
10. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising controlling
the display to fix the content displayed on the display so that
returning the apparatus to an un-deformed state does not remove the
additional user selectable control elements from the display.
11-15. (canceled)
16. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least
one memory including computer program code; wherein the at least
one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with
the at least one processor, enable the apparatus to: enable a
plurality of user selectable control elements to be displayed,
detect a user input wherein the user input comprises deforming at
least a portion of a housing of the apparatus; and in response to
detecting the user input, enable at least one additional user
selectable control element to be displayed for each user selectable
control element previously displayed on the display, in dependence
upon the deformation made to the housing of the apparatus.
17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the housing
comprises an external casing of the apparatus.
18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the user input
comprises applying stress to the housing of the apparatus to cause
the deformation.
19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the deformation
comprises at least one of bending at least a portion of the housing
of the apparatus, or stretching at least a portion of the housing
of the apparatus.
20-22. (canceled)
23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the number of
additional user control elements displayed is dependent upon a
magnitude of the deformation.
24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the at least one
memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at
least one processor, cause the additional user selectable control
elements displayed on the display to be removed in response to
detecting that the apparatus is returned to an un-deformed
state.
25-30. (canceled)
31. A non-transitory physical entity comprising computer program
comprising computer program instructions that, when executed by at
least one processor, cause an apparatus at least to perform:
enabling a plurality of user selectable control elements to be
displayed, detecting a user input wherein the user input comprises
deforming at least a portion of a housing of an apparatus; and in
response to detecting the user input, enabling at least one
additional user selectable control element to be displayed for each
user selectable control element previously displayed on the
display, in dependence upon the deformation made to the housing of
the apparatus.
32-38. (canceled)
39. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein each user selectable
control element is associated with an application so that the user
selectable control element provides a shortcut to at least one of a
function associated with an application or a content item
associated with the application.
40. A method as claimed in claim 39 wherein the additional user
selectable control elements comprise at least one of the most
recently used shortcut, or the most frequently used shortcut.
41. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one additional
user selectable control element is provided for each user
selectable control element previously displayed on the display.
42. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein each user
selectable control element is associated with an application so
that the user selectable control element provides a shortcut to at
least one of a function associated with an application or a content
item associated with the application.
43. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the additional user
selectable control elements comprise at least one of the most
recently used shortcut or the most frequently used shortcut.
44. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein at least one
additional user selectable control element is provided for each
user selectable control element previously displayed on the
display.
Description
TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD
[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method,
apparatus, computer program and user interface. In particular, they
relate to a method, apparatus, computer program and user interface
where the apparatus comprises a housing which can be deformed by
being bent or stretched by the user of the apparatus.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Apparatus which display content such as information or user
selectable items are well known. It is useful to provide a simple
and intuitive way of enabling a user of such apparatus to control
the content which is displayed on the display.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0003] According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments
of the disclosure there is provided a method comprising: detecting
a user input wherein the user input comprises deforming at least a
portion of a housing of an apparatus; and in response to detecting
the user input, varying the amount of content displayed on a
display, in dependence upon the deformation made to the housing of
the apparatus.
[0004] In some embodiments the housing may comprise an external
casing of the apparatus.
[0005] In some embodiments the user input may comprise applying
stress to the housing of the apparatus to cause the
deformation.
[0006] In some embodiments the deformation may comprise bending at
least a portion of the housing of the apparatus.
[0007] In some embodiments the deformation may comprise stretching
at least a portion of the housing of the apparatus.
[0008] In some embodiments, in response to detecting a first
deformation, content may be added to the display. In response to
detecting a second, different deformation content may be removed
from the display.
[0009] In some embodiments the amount of content added or removed
may be dependent upon a magnitude of the deformation.
[0010] In some embodiments returning the apparatus to an
un-deformed state may cause content displayed on the display to be
returned to an original state.
[0011] In some embodiments the method may further comprise
controlling the display to fix the content displayed on the display
so that returning the apparatus to an un-deformed state does not
cause any further change in the content displayed on the
display.
[0012] In some embodiments varying the amount of content displayed
on the display may comprise varying the number of user selectable
control elements displayed on the display.
[0013] In some embodiments varying the amount of content displayed
may comprise displaying metadata associated with an item displayed
on a display.
[0014] In some embodiments varying the amount of content may
comprise varying the number of items displayed in a list.
[0015] In some embodiments varying the amount of content may
comprise displaying additional information associated with items in
a list.
[0016] In some embodiments the content which is added or removed
from the display may comprise content which is associated with
content displayed on the display before the user input is
detected.
[0017] According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments
of the disclosure there is provided an apparatus comprising: at
least one processor; and at least one memory including computer
program code; wherein the at least one memory and the computer
program code are configured to, with the at least one processor,
enable the apparatus to: detect a user input wherein the user input
comprises deforming at least a portion of a housing of the
apparatus; and in response to detecting the user input, vary the
amount of content displayed on a display, in dependence upon the
deformation made to the housing of the apparatus.
[0018] In some embodiments the housing may comprise an external
casing of the apparatus.
[0019] In some embodiments wherein the user input may comprise
applying stress to the housing of the apparatus to cause the
deformation.
[0020] In some embodiments the deformation may comprise bending at
least a portion of the housing of the apparatus.
[0021] In some embodiments the deformation may comprise stretching
at least a portion of the housing of the apparatus.
[0022] In some embodiments the at least one memory and the computer
program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor,
enable the apparatus to, add content to the display in response to
detecting a first deformation. The at least one memory and the
computer program code may also be configured to, with the at least
one processor, enable the apparatus to, remove content from the
display in response to detecting a second, different
deformation.
[0023] In some embodiments the amount of content added or removed
may be dependent upon a magnitude of the deformation.
[0024] In some embodiments the at least one memory and the computer
program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor,
cause content displayed on the display to be returned to an
original state in response to detecting that the apparatus is
returned to an un-deformed state.
[0025] In some embodiments the at least one memory and the computer
program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor,
enable the apparatus to control the display to fix the content
displayed on the display so that detecting the apparatus has
returned to an un-deformed state does not cause any further change
in the content displayed on the display.
[0026] In some embodiments varying the amount of content displayed
on the display may comprise varying the number of user selectable
control elements displayed on the display.
[0027] In some embodiments varying the amount of content displayed
may comprise displaying metadata associated with an item displayed
on a display.
[0028] In some embodiments varying the amount of content may
comprise varying the number of items displayed in a list.
[0029] In some embodiments varying the amount of content may
comprise displaying additional information associated with items in
a list.
[0030] In some embodiments content which is added or removed from
the display may comprise content which is associated with content
displayed on the display before the user input is detected.
[0031] According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments
of the disclosure there is provided an apparatus comprising: means
for detecting a user input wherein the user input comprises
deforming at least a portion of a housing of an apparatus; and
means for varying, in response to detecting the user input, the
amount of content displayed on a display, in dependence upon the
deformation made to the housing of the apparatus.
[0032] According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments
of the disclosure there is provided a computer program comprising
computer program instructions that, when executed by at least one
processor, cause an apparatus at least to perform: detecting a user
input wherein the user input comprises deforming at least a portion
of a housing of an apparatus; and in response to detecting the user
input, varying the amount of content displayed on a display, in
dependence upon the deformation made to the housing of the
apparatus.
[0033] In some embodiments there is provided a computer program
comprising program instructions for causing a computer to perform
the method of any of the above paragraphs.
[0034] In some embodiments there is provided a physical entity
embodying the computer program as described above.
[0035] In some embodiments there is provided an electromagnetic
carrier signal carrying the computer program as described
above.
[0036] According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments
of the disclosure there is provided a user interface comprising: a
user input device configured to detect a user input wherein the
user input comprises deforming at least a portion of a housing of
an apparatus; and a display, wherein, in response to detecting the
user input comprising deforming at least a portion of a housing of
an apparatus, the amount of content displayed on the display is
varied, in dependence upon the deformation made to the housing of
the apparatus.
[0037] In some embodiments the housing may comprise an external
casing of the apparatus.
[0038] In some embodiments in response to detecting a first
deformation content is added to the display. In response to
detecting a second, different deformation content is removed from
the display.
[0039] The apparatus may be for wireless communication
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0040] For a better understanding of various examples of
embodiments of the present disclosure reference will now be made by
way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0041] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an apparatus according to
exemplary embodiments of the disclosure;
[0042] FIGS. 2A to 2D illustrate the housing of the apparatus
according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure;
[0043] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates another apparatus according
to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure;
[0044] FIG. 4 is a block diagram which illustrates a method
according to embodiments of the disclosure;
[0045] FIGS. 5A to 5D illustrate a first exemplary embodiment of
the disclosure;
[0046] FIG. 6 illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of the
disclosure;
[0047] FIGS. 7A to 7C illustrate a third exemplary embodiment of
the disclosure; and
[0048] FIGS. 8A to 8C illustrate a third exemplary embodiment of
the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0049] The Figures illustrate a method, apparatus 1, computer
program and user interface wherein the method comprises detecting
51 a user input wherein the user input comprises deforming at least
a portion of a housing 25 of an apparatus 1; and in response to
detecting the user input, varying 53 the amount of content
displayed on a display 15, in dependence upon the deformation made
to the housing 25 of the apparatus 1.
[0050] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an apparatus 1 according to
an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. The apparatus 1 may be
an electronic apparatus. The apparatus 1 may be, for example, a
mobile cellular telephone, a personal computer, a camera, a gaming
device, a personal digital assistant, an electronic book reader, a
personal music player, a tablet computer or any other similar
apparatus. The apparatus 1 may be a handheld apparatus 1 which can
be carried in a user's hand, handbag or jacket pocket for
example.
[0051] Features referred to in the following description are
illustrated in FIG. 1. However, it should be appreciated that the
apparatus 1 may comprise additional features that are not
illustrated. For example, in embodiments of the disclosure where
the apparatus 1 is a mobile cellular telephone or other
communications device, the apparatus 1 may also comprise one or
more transmitters and receivers configured to enable wireless
communication.
[0052] The apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises: a user
interface 13 and a controller 4. In the illustrated embodiment the
controller 4 comprises at least one processor 3 and at least one
memory 5 and the user interface 13 comprises a display 15, a user
input device 17 and one or more sensors 19. The one or more sensors
19 may be configured to detect physical deformation of the
apparatus 1.
[0053] The apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 also comprises a
housing 25. The housing 25 provides an external casing for the
apparatus 1. The components of the apparatus 1, which are
illustrated schematically in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, may be contained
within the housing 25. Some of the components of the apparatus 1,
such as the display 15 and the user input device 17 may be provided
on the surface of the housing 25. The housing 25 may provide
protection for the components of the apparatus 1. For example, the
housing 25 may protect the components of the apparatus 1 from
atmospheric conditions such as moisture or temperature variations.
The housing 25 may also be configured to protect the components of
the apparatus 1 from mechanical shocks.
[0054] The controller 4 provides means for controlling the
apparatus 1. The controller 4 may be implemented using instructions
that enable hardware functionality, for example, by using
executable computer program instructions 11 in one or more
general-purpose or special-purpose processors 3 that may be stored
on a computer readable storage medium 23 (e.g. disk, memory etc.)
to be executed by such processors 3.
[0055] The controller 4 may be configured to control the apparatus
1 to perform a plurality of different functions. For example, where
the apparatus 1 is a mobile cellular telephone the controller 4 may
be configured to control the apparatus 1 to make and receive
telephone calls and also to perform other functions such as send
messages or access communication networks such as local area
networks or the internet. In some embodiments of the disclosure the
apparatus 1 may also be configured to store and render content such
as audio and audio visual content.
[0056] The controller 4 may also be configured to enable the
apparatus 1 to detect a user input wherein the user input comprises
deforming at least a portion of a housing 25 of the apparatus 1;
and in response to detecting the user input, vary the amount of
content displayed on a display 15, in dependence upon the
deformation made to the housing 25 of the apparatus 1.
[0057] The at least one processor 3 is configured to receive input
commands from the user interface 13 and also to provide output
commands to the user interface 13. The at least one processor 3 is
also configured to write to and read from the at least one memory
5. The outputs of the user interface 13 are provided as inputs to
the controller 4.
[0058] The at least one memory 5 stores a computer program 9
comprising computer program instructions 11 that control the
operation of the apparatus 1 when loaded into the at least one
processor 3. The computer program instructions 11 provide the logic
and routines that enable the apparatus 1 to perform the methods
illustrated in FIG. 4. The at least one processor 3 by reading the
at least one memory 5 is able to load and execute the computer
program 9.
[0059] The computer program instructions 11 may provide computer
readable program means configured to control the apparatus 1. The
program instructions 11 may provide, when loaded into the
controller 4; means for detecting 51 a user input wherein the user
input comprises deforming at least a portion of a housing 25 of an
apparatus 1; and means for varying 53, in response to detecting 51
the user input, the amount of content displayed on a display, in
dependence upon the deformation made to the housing 25 of the
apparatus 1.
[0060] The computer program 9 may arrive at the apparatus 1 via any
suitable delivery mechanism 21. The delivery mechanism 21 may be,
for example, a computer-readable storage medium, a computer program
product 23, a memory device, a record medium such as a CD-ROM or
DVD, an article of manufacture that tangibly embodies the computer
program 9. The delivery mechanism may be a signal configured to
reliably transfer the computer program 9. The apparatus 1 may
propagate or transmit the computer program 9 as a computer data
signal.
[0061] Although the memory 5 is illustrated as a single component
it may be implemented as one or more separate components some or
all of which may be integrated/removable and/or may provide
permanent/semi-permanent/dynamic/cached storage.
[0062] References to `computer-readable storage medium`, `computer
program product`, `tangibly embodied computer program` etc. or a
`controller`, `computer`, `processor` etc. should be understood to
encompass not only computers having different architectures such as
single/multi-processor architectures and sequential (e.g. Von
Neumann)/parallel architectures but also specialized circuits such
as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), application specific
integration circuits (ASIC), signal processing devices and other
devices. References to computer program, instructions, code etc.
should be understood to encompass software for a programmable
processor or firmware such as, for example, the programmable
content of a hardware device whether instructions for a processor,
or configuration settings for a fixed-function device, gate array
or programmable logic device etc.
[0063] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 the user
interface 13 comprises a user input device 17, a display 15 and one
or more sensors 19.
[0064] The user input device 17 may comprise any means which
enables a user of the apparatus 1 to input information into the
apparatus 1. The information may be used to control the apparatus
1. The information may be stored in the one or more memories 5 of
the apparatus 1. The user input device 17 may comprise a touch
sensitive display, a keypad a joystick or navigation key or a
combination of different types of user input devices.
[0065] The display 15 may comprise any means which enables
information to be displayed to a user of the apparatus 1. The
information may correspond to information which has been input by
the user via the user input device 17, information which is stored
in the one or more memories 5 or information which has been
received by apparatus 1.
[0066] In some embodiments of the disclosure the user input device
17 and the display 15 may be combined to provide a touch sensitive
display which both enables information to be displayed to a user
and enables a user to make user inputs. In some embodiments the
display 15 may be configured to provide a hovering user input
device whereby a user can make inputs by hovering an input device
such as a finger, hand, stylus or any other suitable object in
proximity to the surface of the display.
[0067] In some embodiments of the disclosure the user interface 13
may also comprise one or more sensors 19. The sensors 19 may be
configured to detect contortions and other deformations of the
apparatus 1 which are caused by a user applying stress to the
housing 25 of the apparatus 1. The sensors 19 may be configured to
detect different contortions and deformations and provide an output
signal to the controller 4 which enables the controller 4 to
determine between the different contortions and deformations. The
sensors 19 may also be configured to detect different magnitudes of
contortions and deformations. The controller 4 may then control the
apparatus 1 in dependence upon the detected deformation.
[0068] In some exemplary embodiments of the disclosure the housing
25 of the apparatus 1 may comprise a flexible body portion which
may be physically deformed by a user applying stress to the housing
25. The physical deformation may comprise bending, folding,
twisting or stretching or other similar deformation of the housing
25 of the apparatus 1 or a portion of the housing 25 of the
apparatus 1. Examples of physical deformations of the housing 25 of
the apparatus 1 are illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 2D.
[0069] In some embodiments of the disclosure the housing 25 may
comprise a flexible portion and a rigid portion so that the user
can only deform the flexible part of the housing 25. The rigid part
of the housing 25 may provide additional protection for sensitive
components of the apparatus which may be damaged if deformed. In
other embodiments of the disclosure the whole of the housing 25 may
be flexible so that a user may be able to deform any part of the
housing 25 by applying the appropriate external forces and
stress.
[0070] The flexible body portion of the housing 25 may comprise a
resiliently deformable material that surrounds an inner protective
core. The inner protective core may house the controller 4 and
other components that may be damaged if bent or deformed. The
resiliently deformable material may comprise, for example, a gel or
fluid in a sealed sac and/or elastomeric material.
[0071] In some embodiments the apparatus 1 may comprise a plurality
of hinged or jointed segments. The hinged or jointed segments may
be configured to be moved with respect to each other to enable a
portion of the apparatus 1 to be folded or bent. The apparatus 1
may be folded or bent in response to a force applied by the user of
the apparatus 1.
[0072] FIGS. 2A to 2D illustrate an apparatus 1 according to
exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. The apparatus 1 comprises
a housing 25 and a display 15 located in the outer surface of the
housing 25. The other components of the apparatus 1 may be located
within the apparatus 1 and so are not illustrated in FIGS. 2A to
2D. In some embodiments of the disclosure the display 15 may also
be configured to be deformed with the rest of the housing 25 of the
apparatus 1. In other embodiments of the disclosure the display 15
may be rigid so that it does deform and remains substantially the
same size and shape when the rest of the housing 25 is
deformed.
[0073] FIG. 2A illustrates an apparatus 1 in an un-deformed state.
In the un-deformed state no stress or external force is being
applied to the apparatus 1 by the user and so the housing 25 of the
apparatus 1' is in its normal, un-deformed state. In the particular
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2A the normal, un-deformed state
comprises a substantially flat rectangular prism.
[0074] FIG. 2B illustrates the apparatus 1 in a first deformed
state. In the first deformed state the user has stretched the
apparatus 1 by applying a force to the ends of the housing 25 in a
direction substantially in parallel to the length of the apparatus
1 as indicated by the arrows 31 and 33. The application of this
stress has deformed the apparatus 1 so that the housing 25 is
elongated. The housing 25 illustrated in FIG. 2B is still a
substantially flat rectangular prism, however the rectangular prism
is now longer but narrower than in the un-deformed state.
[0075] In some embodiments of the disclosure the increase in the
length of the housing 25 may be proportional to the external force
or stress applied by the user. By varying the stress applied to the
ends of the housing 25 the user can vary the amount of deformation
of the housing 25.
[0076] FIG. 2C illustrates the apparatus 1 in a second deformed
state. In the second deformed state the user has bent the apparatus
1 by applying a substantially downwards force to each end of the
housing 25 in the directions indicated by the arrows 35 and 37. The
application of these forces has deformed the apparatus 1 so that
the housing 25 is now bent or curved.
[0077] The amount of bending or curvature of the housing 25 may be
proportional to the external force or stress applied by the user.
By varying the stress applied to the ends of the housing 25 the
user can vary the amount of bending or curvature of the housing
25.
[0078] FIG. 2D illustrates the apparatus 1 in a third deformed
state. In the third deformed state the user has twisted the
apparatus 1 by applying a torque to each end of the housing 25 in
the directions indicated by the arrows 39 and 41. The application
of these forces has deformed the apparatus 1 so that the housing 25
is now twisted.
[0079] The amount of twisting of the housing 25 may be proportional
to the external torque applied by the user. By varying the torque
applied to the ends of the housing 25 the user can vary the amount
of twisting of the housing 25.
[0080] It is to be appreciated that the deformations disclosed in
FIGS. 2A to 2D are exemplary and that other deformations may be
made. For example a user may be able to simultaneously bend and
stretch the housing 25 of the apparatus 1. In other embodiments a
user may apply a force which causes the compression or folding of
the housing 25 of the apparatus 1, for example, the user may apply
a force in a direction substantially opposite to the directions
indicated by arrows 31 and 33 in FIG. 2B.
[0081] Also in the embodiments of the disclosure illustrated in
FIGS. 2A to 2D the user has deformed the whole of the housing 25.
In other embodiments of the disclosure the housing 25 may be
configured so that a user can deform some portions of the housing
25 but leave other portions un-deformed. For example, the user may
bend only one end of the housing 25.
[0082] FIG. 3 illustrates an apparatus 1' according to another
embodiment of the disclosure. The apparatus 1' illustrated in FIG.
3 may be a chip or a chip-set. The apparatus 1' comprises at least
one processor 3 and at least one memory 5 as described above in
relation to FIG. 1. The apparatus 1' may be contained within the
housing 25.
[0083] FIG. 4 illustrates a method according to exemplary
embodiments of the disclosure. At block 51 the one or more sensors
19 sense a user input comprising deforming at least a portion of
the housing 25 of the apparatus 1. The sensors 19 provide an output
signal to the controller 4 so that the controller 4 can detect that
the user input has been made.
[0084] The deformation may comprise any change in size or shape of
the housing 25 of the apparatus 1 in response to an external force
applied by the user. The deformation may be made to the whole of
the housing 25 or just a portion of the housing 25 of the apparatus
1. For example, the deformation may comprise a stretching, bending
or twisting of the housing 25 of the apparatus 1 as illustrated in
FIGS. 2B to 2D.
[0085] The output signal which is provided to the controller 4 by
the one or more sensors 19 may provide an indication of the type of
the deformation which has been made. For example it may provide an
indication of the change of shape of the housing 25. For instance,
it may indicate whether the housing 25 has been stretched or bent
or twisted or a combination of different deformations.
[0086] The output signal which is provided to the controller 4 by
the one or more sensors 19 may also provide an indication of a
magnitude of the deformation which has been made. For example it
may indicate how far the housing 25 has been stretched or the angle
through which the housing 25 has been bent or twisted or the radius
of curvature of a bend or twist or any other detectable
characteristic which provides an indication of the magnitude of the
deformation.
[0087] At block 53, in response to detecting the user input, the
controller 4 controls the display 15 to vary the amount of content
displayed on the display 15. The amount of variation of the content
may depend on the deformation made to the housing 25 of the
apparatus 1. The type of content which is displayed on the display
may depend on factors such as the mode of operation of the
apparatus 1, the functions available to the apparatus 1 and the
type of deformation which has been made.
[0088] In some embodiments of the disclosure varying the amount of
content displayed on a display 15 may comprise adding content items
to the display 15. In other embodiments of the disclosure varying
the amount of content displayed on a display 15 may comprise
removing content items from the display 15. Whether content is
added or removed may be determined by the deformation which is made
to the apparatus 1. For example, bending the housing 25 of the
apparatus 1 in a first direction may cause content items to be
added to the display 15 while bending the housing 25 of the
apparatus 1 in a second, different direction might cause content
items to be removed from the display 15.
[0089] In some embodiments of the disclosure returning the housing
25 of the apparatus 1 to the un-deformed state may cause the
content displayed on the display 15 to be returned to its original
state. The apparatus 1 may be returned to its un-deformed state
automatically once the user removes the stress or torque applied.
In some embodiments of the disclosure the user may need to apply a
further external force in the opposite direction to return the
housing 25 of the apparatus 1 back to the un-deformed state.
[0090] In other embodiments of the disclosure the controller 4 may
control the display 15 to fix the content displayed on the display
15 after the deformation input has been detected so that the
apparatus 1 may be returned to the un-deformed state without any
further variations of the content displayed on the display 15. This
may be useful if the user wishes to continue viewing content added
to the display 15 but might find it tiring or inconvenient to
continue applying the forces necessary to maintain the housing 25
in a deformed state.
[0091] The content displayed on the display 15 may depend on the
mode of operation of the apparatus 1. The content which is added or
removed from the display 15 may depend on the mode of the operation
of the apparatus 1 and also the type and/or magnitude of the
deformation applied to the housing 25 of the apparatus 1. Exemplary
embodiments of the disclosure are illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8. It
is to be appreciated that other embodiments of the disclosure may
be implemented.
[0092] FIGS. 5A to 5D illustrate a first exemplary embodiment of
the disclosure. In this exemplary embodiment the controller 4
controls the display 15 to add user selectable control elements to
the display 15 in response to a detection that the housing 25 of
the apparatus 1 has been stretched or bent. In the embodiment
illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 5D the user may deform the housing 25 of
the apparatus 1 by stretching the housing 25 of the apparatus 1 as
illustrated in the left hand example or by bending the housing 25
of the apparatus 1 as illustrated in the right hand example or a
combination of the two. An example of a graphical user interface 61
which may be displayed on the display 15 is illustrated in the
centre. The display 15 may be a touch sensitive display.
[0093] In FIG. 5A the apparatus 1 is configured in its normal,
un-deformed state. In the un-deformed state no external forces are
applied by the user to the housing 25 of the apparatus 1. The
housing 25 of the apparatus 1 is a substantially flat rectangular
prism.
[0094] When the apparatus 1 is in the normal, un-deformed state the
graphical user interface 61 which is displayed on the display 15
comprises a plurality of user selectable control elements 63A to
63L. The plurality of user selectable control elements 63A to 63L
may comprise part of a home screen or a menu structure. In the
exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 5D the user
selectable control elements are associated with the functions of
calendar 63A, contacts 63B, music 63C, web 63D, messaging 63E,
photos 63F, store 63G, map 63H, video 631, setting 63J, social 63K
and applications 63L. It is to be appreciated that in other
embodiments of the disclosure other control elements may be
associated with different functions and sets of functions.
[0095] Each of the user selectable control elements comprises an
icon. A user may access the functions, content and applications
associated with the control elements 63A to 63L by actuating the
area of the display 15 in which the respective user selectable
control element 63A to 63L is displayed.
[0096] In FIG. 5B the user has made a user input comprising
deforming the housing 25 of the apparatus 1. This may have been by
stretching the housing 25 of the apparatus 1 to elongate the
housing 25 or by bending the housing 25 of the apparatus 1 so that
the housing is curved rather than substantially flat.
[0097] In response to determining that the user input has been made
the controller 4 controls the display 15 to add a plurality of
additional user selectable control elements 65A to 65L to the
graphical user interface 61. In the embodiment of FIG. 5B an
additional user selectable control element 65 is displayed for each
of the original user selectable control elements 63 previously
displayed on the display 15 when the apparatus 1 was in the normal,
un-deformed state. In the specific embodiment of FIGS. 5A to 5B the
additional user selectable control elements 65 are displayed
overlaying the original user selectable control elements 63.
[0098] Each of the additional user selectable control elements 65
provides a shortcut to a specific function or piece of content
associated with the respective applications. The function or
content may be, for example, the most recent function or content
used by the user in that application or it may be the most
frequently used or a function or piece of content which the user
has selected to be associated with the shortcut. For example, the
additional user selectable control element 65A associated with the
calendar application may provide a shortcut to the next entry in
the calendar. The additional user selectable control element 65B
associated with the contact application may provide a shortcut to
details of a contact stored within the contact application. The
additional user selectable control element 65C associated with the
music application may provide a shortcut to the last song or audio
file which was played. The additional user selectable control
element 65D associated with the web application may provide a link
to a web page selected or recently accessed by the user. The
additional user selectable control element 65E associated with the
messaging application may provide access to the most recently
received message or may enable a user to write a new message. The
additional user selectable control element 65F associated with the
photos application may provide a shortcut to a recently captured
image or an album of images. The additional user selectable control
element 65G associated with the store application may enable a user
to access the most popular applications available from the store.
The additional user selectable control element 65G associated with
the maps application may enable a user to identify their current
location. The additional user selectable control element 651
associated with the video application may provide a shortcut to a
recently captured or viewed video. The additional user selectable
control element 65J associated with the settings may provide a
shortcut to specific setting of the apparatus 1 such as the
profiles or themes of the apparatus. The additional user selectable
control element 65K associated with the social application may
provide a shortcut to the profile of a contact from the social
application. The additional user selectable control element 65L
associated with the applications may provide a shortcut to a
recently used or downloaded application. It is to be appreciated
that the above mentioned functions are exemplary and other
functions, applications and content may be used in other
embodiments of the disclosure. The user of the apparatus 1 may be
able to access any of the functions or content associated with the
additional user selectable control elements 65A to 65L by actuating
the area of the display 15 in which the respective control elements
are displayed.
[0099] In FIG. 5C the user has made a further user input comprising
deforming the housing 25 of the apparatus 1 so that the magnitude
of the deformation of the housing 25 is increased with respect to
the deformation of FIG. 5B. In embodiments where the housing 25 of
the apparatus 1 has been stretched the housing 25 in FIG. 5C is
longer than the housing in FIG. 5B. In embodiments where the
housing 25 has been bent the housing 25 has a greater radius of
curvature or bends through a greater angle than in FIG. 5B.
[0100] In response to determining that the user input has been made
and the magnitude of the deformation has increased the controller 4
controls the display 15 to add a further plurality of user
selectable control elements 67A to 67L to the graphical user
interface 61 in addition to the plurality of user selectable
control elements 65A to 65L displayed in FIG. 5B. The newly added
plurality of user selectable control elements 67A to 67L may
provide shortcuts to further functions and content associated with
the respective applications.
[0101] In FIG. 5D the user has made a further user input comprising
deforming the housing 25 of the apparatus 1 so that the magnitude
of the deformation of the housing 25 is increased with respect to
the deformation of FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C. In embodiments where the
housing 25 of the apparatus 1 has been stretched the housing 25 in
FIG. 5D is longer than the housing in FIGS. 5B and 5C. In
embodiments where the housing 25 has been bent the housing 25 has a
greater radius of curvature or bends through a greater angle than
in FIGS. 5B and 5C.
[0102] In response to determining that the user input has been made
and the magnitude of the deformation has increased even further the
controller 4 controls the display 15 to add a further plurality of
user selectable control elements 69A to 69L to the graphical user
interface 61 in addition to the plurality of user selectable
control elements 65A to 65L and 67A to 67L displayed in FIGS. 5B
and 5C. The newly added plurality of user selectable control
elements 69A to 69L may provide shortcuts to even more functions
and content associated with the respective applications.
[0103] This enables a user to easily and conveniently access
functions of the apparatus 1. By deforming the housing 25 of the
apparatus 1 the user can easily obtain access to the shortcuts
provided by the additional user selectable control elements. Also
the apparatus 1 is intuitive for a user to use as the further the
user deforms the apparatus 1, the more shortcuts are displayed on
the display 15.
[0104] In some embodiments of the disclosure once the user returns
the housing 25 of apparatus 1 to the normal, un-deformed state the
additional user selectable control elements may be removed from the
display 15. This may enable a user to quickly and easily return to
the home screen or menu structure. In other embodiments of the
disclosure the user may be able to control the apparatus to fix the
additional user selectable control elements onto the display 15 so
that the additional user selectable control elements remain
displayed on the display 15 even when the apparatus 1 has been
returned to the normal, un-deformed state. This may make it easier
for a user select the respective shortcuts without having to
maintain an external force on the apparatus in order to keep the
housing 25 of the apparatus 1 in a deformed state.
[0105] FIG. 6 illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of the
disclosure. In this exemplary embodiment of the disclosure the
controller 4 initially controls the display 15 to display a content
item such as an image 71. The image 71 may be an image which is
stored in the one or more memories 5 of the apparatus 1 or an image
which the apparatus 1 has accessed using a communications function
such as an internet or social networking function.
[0106] In the initial state the housing 25 of the apparatus 1 may
be configured in a normal, un-deformed state. The image 71 may be
displayed on the display 15 so that the image occupies the maximum
amount of space available on the display 15.
[0107] The user then makes a user input comprising applying an
external force to the housing 25 of the apparatus 1 which causes
deformation of the housing 25 of the apparatus 1. The deformation
may be stretching the housing 25 of the apparatus 1 by applying a
force in the directions indicated by the arrows 73, 75. However it
is to be appreciated that any suitable deformation which could be
detected by the one or more sensors 19 may be made.
[0108] In response to detecting that the user input has been made
the controller 4 controls the display 15 to add content to the
display 15. In the embodiment of FIG. 6 the content comprises
metadata associated with the image 71 which was originally
displayed on the display 15. The metadata 77 may be contextual
metadata 77 which indicates the location and time the image was
created, the size of the image and whether or not the image has
been shared, for example by being uploaded to social networking
sites or shared using a messaging application. The metadata might
also include comments and titles which have been added by the user
of the apparatus 1 or other people with which the image 71 has been
shared.
[0109] In the particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 when the
metadata 77 is displayed on the display the image 71 is also
displayed at a reduced scale so that the user can easily see which
image the metadata relates to.
[0110] The user can return the apparatus 1 to the normal,
un-deformed state by removing the application external force from
the housing 25 of the apparatus 1. In some embodiments of the
disclosure the user may need to apply a force in the opposite
direction to the force used to deform the apparatus 1 in order to
return the housing 25 of the apparatus 1 to the normal, un-deformed
state.
[0111] Once the controller 4 determines that the housing 25 of the
apparatus 1 has been returned to the normal, un-deformed state the
controller 4 controls the display 15 to remove the metadata 77 from
the display 15 and display the image 71 in the original scale.
[0112] This enables a user of the apparatus 1 to quickly and easily
access metadata associated with content. The content could be any
suitable content such as images or video content or text. The
apparatus 1 is intuitive for a user to use as deforming the
apparatus 1 causes the additional metadata 77 to be added to the
display 15 and returning the housing 25 of the apparatus 1 to the
un-deformed state removes the additional metadata from the display
15.
[0113] FIGS. 7A to 7C illustrate a third exemplary embodiment of
the disclosure. In this embodiment of the disclosure a plurality of
content items are displayed as a list 81, the plurality of content
items may comprise, for example a list of contacts or a list of
calendar entries or a list of received messages or any other
suitable list of information or functions associated with the
apparatus 1.
[0114] FIG. 7A illustrates an example in which the user can
increase or decrease the number of items from the list 81 which are
simultaneously displayed on the display 15 by deforming the housing
25 of the apparatus 1. The number of items of the list 81 displayed
simultaneously on the display 15 is increased when the user deforms
the housing 25 of the apparatus 1 by bending the ends of the
apparatus 1 away from them so that they view a convex display 15.
The scale of the items in the list 81 may be decreased so that more
items of the list 81 may be displayed simultaneously.
[0115] Conversely the number of items of the list 81 displayed
simultaneously on the display 15 is decreased when the user deforms
the housing 25 of the apparatus 1 in the opposite direction by
bending the ends of the apparatus 1 towards them so that they view
a concave display 15. The scale of the items in the list 81 may be
increased as less items of the list 81 are displayed
simultaneously.
[0116] FIG. 7B illustrates an example in which the user can control
the apparatus 1 to cause additional content relating to the list 81
to be displayed on the display 15. In FIG. 7B the user deforms the
housing 25 of the apparatus 1 by bending the ends of the apparatus
1 away from them so that they view a convex display 15. This causes
the controller 4 to add additional items 83 to the display 15. In
the embodiments of FIG. 7B the additional items 83 are displayed
between the previously displayed items in the list 81. The
additional items 83 may comprise additional information about the
items in the list 81. For example where the items in the list 81
are names of contacts the additional items 83 may comprise further
information relating to the contacts such as status updates or
details about recent communications between the user of the
apparatus 1 and the respective contacts.
[0117] In the embodiment of FIG. 7B the user may be able to control
the apparatus to fix the additional items 83 on the display 15 so
that the user can return the apparatus to the normal, un-deformed
state and still view the additional items. This may make the
apparatus 1 easier for a user to use as they do not need to
maintain the external forces on the housing 25 of the apparatus 1
in order to continue viewing the additional items 83.
[0118] In order to remove the additional items 83 from the display
15 the user may need to deform the apparatus 1 in the opposite
direction by bending the ends of the apparatus 1 towards them so
that they view a concave display 15. This may cause the list 81 to
be returned to its original state.
[0119] FIG. 7C illustrates an example in which the user can also
control the apparatus 1 to cause additional content relating to the
list 81 to be displayed on the display 15. In the embodiment of
FIG. 7C the user deforms the housing 25 of the apparatus 1 by
bending a side of the apparatus 1 away from them so that they view
a convex display 15. This causes the controller 4 to add additional
items 85 to the display 15. In the embodiments of FIG. 7C the
additional items 85 are displayed to the side of the previously
displayed items in the list 81. The additional items 85 may
comprise additional information about the items in the list 81 or
an image or status indication associated with the items in the list
81.
[0120] The embodiments illustrated in FIG. 7C enables a user to
control which additional items are added to the display 15 by
bending the housing 25 of the apparatus 1 in a different direction
to the example of FIG. 7B. This may provide a simple and intuitive
method of enabling the user to access different content items. In
some embodiments of the disclosure the user may be able to cause
different content items to be added to the display 15 in response
to different deformations of the housing 25 of the apparatus 1.
[0121] FIGS. 8A to 8C illustrate a fourth exemplary embodiment of
the disclosure. In this embodiment a portion of text 91 is
displayed on the display 15. The portion of text 91 may comprise
text which is stored in the one or more memories 5 of the apparatus
1 or text which has been received by the apparatus 1.
[0122] In this exemplary embodiment the controller 4 controls the
display 15 to control the spacing of the text 91 in response to a
detection that the housing 25 of the apparatus 1 has been deformed.
As the spacing of the text is changed this causes the amount of
text displayed on the display 15 to be varied as well.
[0123] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8C
the user may deform the housing 25 of the apparatus 1 by stretching
the housing 25 of the apparatus 1 as illustrated in the schematic
illustration of the housing 25 of the apparatus 1. It is to be
appreciated that other types of deformations of the housing 25 may
be made in other embodiments of the disclosure. An example of a
graphical user interface 61 which may be displayed on the display
15 is illustrated adjacent to the schematic illustration of the
housing 25 of the apparatus 1.
[0124] In FIG. 8A the apparatus 1 is configured in its normal,
un-deformed state. In the un-deformed state no external forces are
applied by the user to the housing 25 of the apparatus 1 and the
housing 25 of the apparatus 1 is a substantially flat rectangular
prism.
[0125] When the apparatus 1 is in the normal, un-deformed state the
graphical user interface 61 which is displayed on the display 15
comprises a portion of text 91 which has a first spacing between
each of the letters and words.
[0126] In FIG. 8B the user has made a user input comprising
deforming the housing 25 of the apparatus 1. In the exemplary
embodiment of FIG. 8B the deformation may have been by stretching
the housing 25 of the apparatus 1 to elongate the housing 25.
[0127] In response to determining that the user input has been made
the controller 4 controls the display 15 to change the spacing
between the letters and words of the text 91 so that the portion of
text 91 is now displayed with a second spacing. In the particular
embodiment of FIG. 8B the spacing has increased. As the size of the
display 15 has remained the same the amount of content displayed on
the display 15 has decreased because there is less text on the
display 15 in FIG. 8B than in FIG. 8A.
[0128] In FIG. 8C the user has made a further user input comprising
deforming the housing 25 of the apparatus 1 so that the magnitude
of the deformation of the housing 25 is increased with respect to
the deformation of FIG. 8B. In embodiments where the housing 25 of
the apparatus 1 has been stretched the housing 25 in FIG. 8C is
longer than the housing in FIG. 8B.
[0129] In response to determining that the user input has been made
and the magnitude of the deformation has increased the controller 4
controls the display 15 to make a further change to the spacing
between the letters and words of the text 91 so that the portion of
text 91 is now displayed with a third spacing. In the particular
embodiment of FIG. 8C the spacing has increased even further. As
the size of the display 15 has remained the same the amount of
content displayed on the display 15 has decreased because there is
less text on the display 15 in FIG. 8C than in FIGS. 8B and 8A.
[0130] The embodiment of FIG. 8A to 8C enables a user to easily
control the spacing of text 91. This may enable a user to arrange
the text into a spacing which is easiest for them to read.
[0131] In the particular embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8C
only the spacing between the letters and words of the text has
changed. The size of the individual characters of the text has not
changed. In other embodiments of the disclosure both the spacing of
the text and the scale of the text may be varied.
[0132] Also in some embodiments of the disclosure the spacing
between letters may be dependent upon the number of letters in a
word. For example, the spacing between letters may be larger for
words with a large number of letters than words with a small number
of letters.
[0133] It is also to be appreciated that in other embodiments of
the disclosure a user may be able to decrease the spacing of the
text 91 by making appropriate user inputs. For example the user may
compress or fold the housing 25 to decrease the spacing.
[0134] The blocks illustrated in the FIG. 4 may represent steps in
a method and/or sections of code in the computer program 9. The
illustration of a particular order to the blocks does not
necessarily imply that there is a required or preferred order for
the blocks and the order and arrangement of the block may be
varied. Furthermore, it may be possible for some blocks to be
omitted.
[0135] Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been
described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various
examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the
examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the
disclosure as claimed. For example in some of the above described
embodiments the content which is added or removed from the display
15 is determined by the mode of operation of the apparatus 1 and
the content which is currently displayed on the display 15 when the
user input comprising the deformation is made. In some of the above
described embodiments the content which is added or removed is
associated with the content which was previously displayed on the
display. For example, in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 5A to
5D the content which is added is directly connected to the content
previously displayed on the display 15 as the added content
comprises a user selectable control element which provides access
to a function where the function is a subset of the functions which
were accessible via the user selectable control elements originally
displayed on the display 15.
[0136] Conversely in some of the other embodiments described above
the content which is added or removed from the display 15 might not
be dependent on the mode of operation of the apparatus 1. In such
embodiments the user input of deforming the apparatus 1 might cause
the same function to be performed irrespective of the initial mode
of operation of the apparatus 1. For example, in the embodiments of
FIGS. 8A to 8C the user input comprising deforming the housing 25
of an apparatus 1 causes a change in the spacing of characters
displayed on the display 15. The same function could be performed
if a user is viewing a block of text or a number of items in a list
or any other content comprising distinct characters or items.
[0137] Features described in the preceding description may be used
in combinations other than the combinations explicitly
described.
[0138] Although functions have been described with reference to
certain features, those functions may be performable by other
features whether described or not.
[0139] Although features have been described with reference to
certain embodiments, those features may also be present in other
embodiments whether described or not.
[0140] Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw
attention to those features of the disclosure believed to be of
particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant
claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or
combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in
the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed
thereon.
* * * * *